Saving Souls, Losing Freedom

April 12, 2010

One would have to be a blind man to not see that America is fast losing the fundamental principles of liberty upon which our once-great country was established. And, without a doubt, the single biggest reason for this decline is the lack of concern and effort on the part of today's Christians and pastors to resist it.

All over America, when one approaches our pastors and church leaders with the obvious decay and ruination of constitutional government and Declaration principles taking place in our land today, the response flippantly comes back: "God hasn't called me to do that; I'm supposed to win souls and that's it." (Or words to that effect.) As if the call to Gospel preaching, evangelism, and missionary endeavor negates our responsibility as citizens of a free land.

Of course, this call to "win souls" doesn't interfere with these preachers' golf games; it doesn't interfere with their family vacations; it doesn't interfere with their active membership in whatever local civic organization they happen to belong to; it doesn't interfere with their hiring of a lawyer if they are falsely accused or defrauded; it doesn't interfere with their invitations to celebrity politicians for special church recognition on patriotic holidays; it doesn't interfere with them going to the polls to vote; it only seems to interfere when they are personally asked to take a stand in the gap for our country's liberties. Then, all of a sudden, they haven't been "called," or "God will take care of it," or "Jesus is coming soon," or "Religion and politics don't mix," ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

As a result of America's preachers' indifference (and that of the Christians they influence), our country is on the brink of becoming an oppressive and tyrannical state. No, let me rephrase that. America is already in the process of becoming an oppressive and tyrannical state. And it's the preachers' fault!

For some, it is a matter of ignorance (I think "willful ignorance" is more appropriate). For some, it is a matter of convenience. For some, it is comfort. For some, it is ambition. Whatever the reason, America's preachers are contributing to the collapse of the greatest free country the world has ever known--all in the name of saving souls.

What these preachers seemingly do not comprehend is that when the hammer falls on liberty in this country, it is going to fall right on top of them—hard. There is no mistaking it: when oppression's hammer strikes, Gospel preachers and Bible believers will be the anvil. And when it happens, it will not matter that a preacher was popular, or was likeable, or was non-controversial, or was compassionate, or was a Moose or Elk club member, or had a big church, or was a friend of the governor, or had "Law Enforcement Appreciation Day" in his church every year, or that he was sought out by political candidates for his endorsement. None of that will matter to a tinker's dam. The boot of state oppression will squash him like a bug! It will not spare him, his wife, his children, his health, his finances, or his feelings. And, ladies and gentlemen, at this very moment, we are not very far away from the hammer falling.

I have just recently come across an official document from one of our war colleges that is downright frightening. I will expose this document during my Sunday morning address, which was live-streamed on the Internet, Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time. To watch this address, go here.

As I read over this document (and the chill bumps began rising all over my body), I thought of all those preachers out there who have purposely refused to engage the body politic on behalf of freedom's principles; those who refused to take a stand for the Constitution and Bill of Rights; those who took the path of least resistance and refused to be controversial; those who put money and success before honor and right; those who claimed to be "too busy" to worry about politics; and those who thought that somehow their Christian duty did not include freedom's fight. What they do not realize is that they, themselves, are in the crosshairs. While they are making a hundred excuses for not actively helping to defend freedom principles, the enemy--after having eradicated the constitutional protections of our liberties--will jump on Gospel preachers and Bible believers "like a chicken on a June bug," as my dad used to say. I am personally convinced that the plans for Christian (and patriot) persecution are already in place.

As I read the above-referenced document, many things--including the now-infamous MIAC report that called our supporters “militia-influenced terrorists”--began to make sense. And so did those reports of FEMA camps that we have all heard so much about, and maybe even the raid on the Hutaree "Christian" militia.

And does anyone really believe that those pastors who will not jeopardize their social standing or retirement programs in order to be faithful to the truth are going to miraculously grow backbones when serious persecution comes? Get real! These timid trumpeters piously extol the ancient example of Daniel's courage in rebelling against the unlawful command of his king; praise the Three Hebrew Children who would not bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar; and commend Simon Peter for defiantly telling Jewish authorities, "We ought to obey God rather than men"--while, at the same time, quoting Romans 13 to justify their own cowardice and indifference.

It is no hyperbole to say that preachers who ignore and avoid the freedom fight do so at their own peril.

At this point, it might be helpful to remember Winston Churchill's challenge to England's citizens: "If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."